partners

Knowledge production is first and foremost a cooperative effort: this is also true of the production of knowledge organization systems in a specific domain. The elaboration of Knowledge Organization Systems with elements such as classification schemes, controlled vocabularies, thesauri, authority files, and glossaries requires the cooperation of subject specialists from all the areas covered, and a special vision on the part of experts who deal specifically with agricultural information geared to help fight hunger in the world.

The AOS initiative needs to involve as wide a sector of the agricultural community as possible; this project can only be successful in combination with the broadest possible range of partners including information providers, research institutes, academic institutions, educational/extension institutions and also the private sector.

AGROVOC has already figured as a common project of the AGRIS centre comunity. There has been a long-standing collaboration between CAB International, FAO and the National Agricultural Library (NAL) of the USA in the development of thesauri and categorization schemes. If the Agricultural Ontology Service project is to succeed, this collaboration needs to be intensified and expanded to other partners.

A number of potential partners present at the first AOS workshop expressed their interest in the project. A 'Launch Group' of individuals representing at least 7 organizations agreed to work further to define the project and to address project funding and management. As the initiative grows, these partners will be better able to define their areas of activity and participation, and new partners and other interested parties will be invited to contribute as appropriate.